Senior General Manager - Head Product & Process Research

Job Description :

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

 

About the Function:    Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About the role: Role Summary

 

This role sets strategic technical direction and delivers high value technical output that is (1) significant in financial impact (NSV/ CAAP targets), (2) advanced in intellectual property and (3) complex in sr stakeholder management.  This role possesses the necessary technical and leadership skills to mentor L6, L5 and peer specialists in their project and research initiatives.  The individual will demonstrate ability in leading the development of novel/ complex technologies and in managing high business priority projects.  The individual will be able to utilize experience in a range of disciplines (i.e. research, liquid crafting, commercialization, beverage processing, and packaging) to deliver commercial ready technical solutions.  The experience level in this role is expected to unlock deep consumer & technical insights to drive beneficial new technology/ methods into the business.

 

Organizational Impact and Influence

 

Is sought out and respected as a technical expert amongst cross functional peer group.  Possesses a demonstrated history of achievement on a technical and project management level, measured in the quality of the work delivered.  Can lead complex projects, platforms and/ or product categories via cross functional teams; consistently creates the conditions for strong teamwork and delivers committed outcomes through others. Seeks out and applies external industry trends to improve individual performance.  Given industry experience, delivers results that would otherwise not be realized.   Understands technical legal and regulatory requirements; can creatively maximize opportunities within and/ or appropriately challenge regulations.  Through technical mentoring relationships, creates an environment where colleagues feel valued and demonstrate technical growth.  Consistently manages technically complex work outside of direct scope and remit to deliver significant business results.   Searches for new ways to connect with consumers through a deeper understanding of consumer motivations. Is influential at their level, and up one level, across the project teams

 

Decision Making / Problem Solving

 

Independently integrates technical knowledge, experience and data to overcome challenges and identify optimal  timely business solutions.  Brings a creative approach to work and is able generate exceptionally innovative solutions to complex problems.  Challenges the status quo to drive through to positive change/ results.  Uses deep technical expertise to identify solutions that lead to new concepts and business building intellectual property.  Proactively prioritizes and course corrects, applying sound judgment in deciding where to focus resource.  Consistently solves complex technical problems, both in a creative and practical capacity.  Can determine when and how to take/manage risks for exceptional outputs.

 

Communication and Influencing Skills

 

Cultivates a culture of openness and information sharing; effectively caters message to ensure alignment and progress.   Able to simplify complex project/scientific learnings and represent technical development to cross functional senior management.  Capable of leading intricate discussions and driving for decisions; builds consensus via shared decision making with teams.  Effectively holds others responsible for work when managing technical platforms/ categories.  Effectively leverages oral and written communication skills to influence recommendations/ positions through to persuasion (even if difficult/ unpopular).  Capable of mentoring others on improving their communication skills. 

 

Independent Judgment

 

Sets direction for their role and aligns their objectives with the business strategy.  Able to develop and execute strategic approaches to technical initiatives/ platforms.  Independently identifies, secures and manages resources needed to accomplish project objectives.  Operates effectively when faced with ambiguity and can judge when a program is delivering meaningful business results and when course correction is needed.  Relies on experience and knowledge to assess the short and long term risk-benefits of various courses of action.  Skillfully changes direction when faced with new information.  Displays exceptional reasoning-analysis skills and identifies unique ways of creating value.  Able to assess and coach judgment capabilities of junior and peer technical colleagues.  Leverages an understanding of the market, consumer behaviour and new products to identify new broad technical opportunities (platforms) for the business.

 

Functional Requirements

 

Discipline Specific Capabilities

 

Expert knowledge in at least one relevant technical discipline is required.  Must demonstrate deep accountability for the end-to-end project execution and support business governance and IP requirements.  May supervise technicians.

 

Mastery of scientific discipline recognized internally across technical teams and Innovation teams.
- Demonstrated strength in several additional disciplines
- Scientific input and judgment sought by external scientists working on assigned projects
- Full knowledge  of product and process technologies in project areas
- Positively influences external experts to improve design, interpretation and focus of their project work.
 - Uses sound knowledge of business and development needs to identify new areas of opportunity for DTR
- Persuasive advocate of commercial science within Diageo technical teams
- Works with scientists across Diageo to identify, prioritize and initiate new technical opportunities
- Builds management and cross-functional enthusiasm for projects through clear technical communication, deep commercial insight and compelling vision of opportunity.

 

Sensory Specialist:
- Solid baseline skills in panel training (reference identification, gaining group consensus, developing a thorough ballot) gained through education or on the job training.
- Able to execute sensory test protocol (and question if issues are seen) as communicated by senior SCG staff
- Knowledge and adherence to scientific test methods in providing unbiased data
- Ability to run, interpret and report basic discrimination data analysis
- Holds the tension with developers on the proper use of sensory and the reporting of data
- Is knowledgeable and adheres to governance procedures in the serving of alcoholic beverages                                                   

- Able to guide and hold accountability of laboratory preparation technician.

 

Pilot Plant and Process Engineer:

- Recognised as having a great level of technical excellence across the core disciplines i.e. brewing, fermentation, distillation.
- Has a detailed understanding of the market needs and the ability to identify new technology opportunities.
- Brings creative thinking to solving technical challenges
- Identifies and engages with third party technology partners to help unlock breakthrough process opportunities.
- Understands the new technology identification process and looks for opportunities to deliver new processing technologies.
- Modifies current ways of working within the C2C process to help deliver factory ready products.
- Is the department advocate of the governance/GMP procedures for producing process ready liquids.

 

Opportunities for Growth

  

-  Direct the experimental work of one or more junior scientists

-  Broaden skill and network through business/ technical cross-functional assignments

-  Expand global external network in specialized technical discipline(s)

-  Expand influence within Diageo through technical leadership and exposure to global senior management

-  Identify new strategic technical opportunities for total team capability growth

Experience / skills required: 

 

Working with us
Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. 

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity. 

 

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application. 

 

Recruitment Scam Warning

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money. 

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Bangalore Technical Centre

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-10-13